Verses 14-15a consist of a negative question in two parts; the first (verse 14) is about men, and the second (verse 15a) is about women. The question as a whole clearly expects the answer “Yes,” so Good News Bible translates it as a simple statement.

In Greek both halves of the question are conditional: “if a man/ woman….” Paul is speaking quite generally, and other common language translations agree with Good News Bible in not translating “if.”

Paul’s use of the word translated nature reflects both the culture in which he lived and his Christian convictions. Nowhere does Paul appear to contrast the natural and the supernatural, as modern theologians and philosophers often have done. Nor does nature for Paul consist only of plants, animals, and inanimate objects. Paul uses nature to refer either to plants, as in Rom 11.21, 24, to human beings as divided by sex (Rom 1.26-27) or race (Rom 2.14; compare 2.27; Gal 2.15), or to divine beings (Gal 4.8). But he could also use nature to refer to man’s sinful state (Eph 2.3). In each case the meaning of the word must be determined by its context. Here Paul is thinking of the order established by God in the world, and especially in human society. Therefore the word nature here could mean “the way God has ordered this world,” or even “… created human society.” And the clause Does not nature itself teach you may then be expanded to “Does not the way God has created human society show you…?”

Long hair translates a verb meaning “to wear long hair,” “to let one’s hair grow long.” In some languages the translation must be “to have much hair.”

The word for degrading is not related to the verb translated “dishonors” in verses 4-5. There the meaning included the idea of shame. Here the thought is rather that of loss of honor or even worthlessness. New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and Revised English Bible agree with Good News Bible in choosing “disgrace.”

This clause, like the end of verse 5, develops the side of Paul’s argument that refers to women.

Is given: both the form of the verb and the context show that woman still possesses what she was once given. Paul is implying that her hair was a gift from God. So in languages that make little use of the passive, it may be better to make this clear: “For God gave her hair to her….”

The word translated to her is omitted in some manuscripts, but it is usually more natural to add it in translation.

The word translated covering is a general word for a garment, possibly one used as an outer covering. Although it does not specify any particular piece of clothing, there seems to be an obvious relation between this verse and the discussion in verses 4 and 5 about a covering for the head.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .